Car-cqupling



(No Model.)

M. G. LANKFORD.

OAR COUPLING.

Patented July 1, 1890.

' cessed interior, and a pin -opening.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

. MARION C. LANKFORD,- OF FLORISSANT, COLORADO.

CAR-CQU PLl NG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,063, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed March 20, 1890. Serial No. 344,623. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, h/IARION O. LANKFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florissant,in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and ,use the same, reference beinghad to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked I thereon ,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-couplers; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic car-coupler embodying simplicity of construction, and which can be easily operated to avoid the danger of uncoupling or coupling. I attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like-letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a draw-head with my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the linkejector and pin-holder.

In the drawings, A represents a draw-head having the usual link-openingin its end, a re Above the pin-openingis formed arectangular frame B, in the top of which is journaled a pulley C. An opening is. made in the top of the draw-head, through which a running-bar D passes into the interior and up above the frame B. The bar D is rigidly secured toa journal-bar E, which is mounted in suitable bearings in the top of the draw-head, and held therein by grooved cap-plate E F, screwed or hasped to the draw-head. The outer ends of this bar E have arms G extending therefrom, which are in reach by the operator from the side of the car. The lower end of the bar D is placed so that the incoming link will strike it and force it back. To the upper end of the pin is secured a chain, which passes over the pulley O, and is made fast to the outer end of bar D, so that when the barD is inthe position shown the pin will be held up, and as the incoming link strikes the bar D it allows the pin to fall by gravity into the link. To permit the bar D to freely swing,I form a beveled or conical recess H in the draw-head.

hen it is desired to operate the bar D from the top of the car, a cord K is attached to the outer end thereof, and passed under a suitable pulley L on the draw-head or car-box up to the top of the car. It will thus be seen that as the bar D is swung back the lower end will be extended forward, while its outer end is thrown back, and as soon as the link strikes the lower end it forces the outer end forward and permits the pin to fall. In 1111- coupling, the bar D is moved, and, striking the link forces it forward and ejects the same, at the same time removing the pin.

1 am aware that many minor changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device and substituted for those shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The car-coupler herein described, consisting of the recessed draw-head, the frame B,

having a pulley journaled therein, the swing- 7 ing bar D, extending into the draw-head and above the same, the journal-bar E, to which the bar D is secured, having extending ends, a pin, and a chain connecting the same with the bar D, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARION O. LANKFORD. Vitnesses:

FRANK F. OASTELLO, Josnrn P. CLAYBAUGH. 

